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Social Innovation - Learn
“learn everything there is to know about the specific context”
I may have started EVOKE to change the world, but now I realize that I’m here to learn how to change it. The wealth of knowledge from people here who are actually out there doing the working is amazing. I really can’t keep up but I am trying and would like as much assistance in helping solve issues here in the Caribbean as I can manage.
The first secret that caught my attention was “Innovation comes from constraints”. I live on an island where there is abundance. The solar, wind and hydro possibilities are limitless, yet ignored. People are comfortable and learn how to adapt to “just enough”.
We recently experienced a severe drought. All our water supply comes from dams (we are surrounded by the sea). It was something that has not happened in a long time and no one was prepared. Our citizens are not trained in areas that encourage the development of sustainable technology and the utility companies are all monopolies. There are even measures in place to discourage individuals from innovation of energy alternatives.
A very significant topic not addressed in the article is the relationship or role legislature or governing bodies play in Social Innovation. While the situation varies for every country, that factor exists for us all.
I am curious to find out more about innovative irrigation practices. Please send me information if you have anything.
Views: 2
Tags: LEARN1
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Comment by Nick Heyming on March 17, 2010 at 3:26am -
Solar stills are a really cool, low tech way to make water. Solar Desalinization can work, but its a bit trickier. Solar concentrators are good for electricity, and there are lots of great wind turbine projects. Maybe you guys need an alternative energy trade school?
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Comment by Samuel Freilich on March 17, 2010 at 4:20am -
Do you do anything in the way of rainwater collection? Of course, dam streams and you do collect rainwater, but if you live on an island, probably quite a bit of the watershed goes directly into the sea without collecting anywhere accessible.
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Comment by Janelle Sargusingh on March 21, 2010 at 9:13pm -
Samuel
I would say all our water is from rain. There should and will always be run off into the sea. We need to find alternative sources. The drought we have just experienced is as a result of no rain.
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Comment by Janelle Sargusingh on March 21, 2010 at 9:37pm
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Nick
Thanks for you feed back, the solar stills are cool, and it would be a fun project to work on with my niece too. It would work on a small scale project (and I have a few in mind). During the drought there was a local news story about a community that claimed to have a few unused wells. These wells always have water, but it is not treated and not sanitary. The Water Company said they would look into it, but I haven’t heard anything more about it.
Solar Desalination is where the big picture is, we are surrounded by the sea! There is one hotel here that I know for sure has their own plant and they have an excess water supply.
We do need a trade school, at least in the Caribbean, as our concerns are mostly the same. I’ve had an idea about putting together some resource people to train and sensitize, then have a Caribbean wide competition for an innovative alternative energy solution. Maybe I’ll make it my Evoke??
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